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Singers who don't play an instrument?

J

Jazz Hands

Dec 16, 2007
62
0
#1
What's everyone's view on lead singers who don't play an instrument (guitar, keyboard, anything)? We're currently auditioning lead singers for an original band & song writing is crucial so we're a little skeptical of a guy who doesn't play anything. It's not that we expect our singer to play his instrument w/ us, it's more or less for his songwriting. We've been gigging for a while & have a decent setlist already so our true fear is someone can knockout our tunes like covers but can't write new material.

After thinking about this topic I can't think of any decent singer I've played w/ that didn't have at least some instrument ability. Obviously we aren't "trying" to judge anyone prior to audition but I'd like to hear the communities view or experiences w/ this.

Peace!
 
#4
Our frontman doesn't play an instrument on stage with us but he plays guitar, drums, bass, mandolin, piano, a little banjo and several other instruments to various degrees of skill. He also is a "hobby" producer.

I think it gives him a much greater understanding of how music is put together so he knows his role a lot better.

Applying the same logic, I think everyone in the band should play at least a LITTLE bit of some other instrument.
 
#5
It makes it harder to communicate ideas with them (or actually it's worse the other way around) and they often don't have a very good timing. Heavy generalization of course, but still true for most singers I know that don't play any instruments.
 
#6
This doesn't apply to me as I'm my band's singer. :p

In generally I'd like singers who I play with to at least play guitar or something. That said I know two singers who play nothing yet are easily among the greatest vocalists I've ever known personally, and gobs better than a lot of singers in more famous bands...
 
#7
I've had very talented singers who can't play an instrument, but with regards to song writing your not going to be able to tell untill they join the band, I know many instrumentalist who are awful song writers and non-musicians who can write amazing lyrics and melodies. in My band at the moment all of us play an instrument to either have taken or taking grade 8 standard (and our pianist is ATCL) so it doesn't apply to us (we're all 17 and 18 atm), song writing wise; although we all get involved it tend to be built on a basic understanding for music and a completely non-musical what sounds good when we play it so if he can sing take the risk!
 
#8
The singer in my band doesn't play anything. He just sings. His instrument is his voice. There was a bit of internal band strife when we hired him for this very reason, but I much prefer an awesome singer that doesn't play an instrument over an awesome guitar player that has a mediocre voice. (For lead singer material.)
 
#11
I don't necessarily require that the singer play their instrument on stage, but they *must* have some instrument knowledge, and be able to tell me what key they are singing in, etc. I find that singers who do not play an instrument tend to have little or no musical knowledge, and in the context of songwriting, are only good for lyrics. They also tend not to have "big ears"...they don't listen well in rehearsal or performance.

Cherie
 
#14
txbasschik said:
I don't necessarily require that the singer play their instrument on stage, but they *must* have some instrument knowledge, and be able to tell me what key they are singing in, etc. I find that singers who do not play an instrument tend to have little or no musical knowledge, and in the context of songwriting, are only good for lyrics. They also tend not to have "big ears"...they don't listen well in rehearsal or performance.

Cherie
Click to expand...
Took the words right out of my mouth. :D
 
#15
mjolnir said:
Took the words right out of my mouth. :D
Click to expand...

{{{HI-5!!!}}}

So many women show up at our jam wanting to sing. Not so many men want to get up and sing with no instrument, but I find a lot of women do.

They mostly don't play an instrument, they don't have any musical knowledge, they don't even know what key their songs are in. And they have no ear...they can't do harmony, and they tend to sing the songs exactly as written, and are unable to go with the jam's flow and pick up on things like, "Oh, he's going to take another lead," or "They play it in a somewhat different meter," or "They're going to repeat the chorus." They can only sing the song as they've practiced with the cd.

Cherie
 
#16
A competent professional singer does play an instrument- their voice. But sadly, I have met only a few pro-competent singers in my life. The rest (including me) were just people who liked to sing and thought it would be neat to sing onstage, which is not enough in a pro context.
 
#17
so howd it work for you?

I came across this thread becuase im writing a letter and wanted to include an analogy.

years ago i heard a story of some dude who got over 150 songs published and only knew the pentatonic scale in a piano.

I did a bit of googling and came up with a better analagy anyway in irving berlin (used only black keys), but i thought i might dredge up this thread because i think much of it is ********

songwriting and playing an instrument are almost totally different things

if you cant see that then youd best stick to covers

how about i invert the op and ask if you make it a requisit when auditioning an instrumentalist that they have lead vocal or frontline experience?

dead set when i first tried to sign up to this forum i got asked Which string is missing? G D A _

i got that wrong coz i have no ********** idea what the answer is an i don really care

when i write songs i start with a seed an that could be anything including the sounds of a kid crying or paint drying

i dont need to know the names of notes or sequences and other inhibitive nonsense when it comes to writing or playing music

comunication and raport between yr collaborators is enough to get started

hth
 
#18
Jazz Hands said:
What's everyone's view on lead singers who don't play an instrument (guitar, keyboard, anything)? We're currently auditioning lead singers for an original band & song writing is crucial so we're a little skeptical of a guy who doesn't play anything. It's not that we expect our singer to play his instrument w/ us, it's more or less for his songwriting. We've been gigging for a while & have a decent setlist already so our true fear is someone can knockout our tunes like covers but can't write new material.

After thinking about this topic I can't think of any decent singer I've played w/ that didn't have at least some instrument ability. Obviously we aren't "trying" to judge anyone prior to audition but I'd like to hear the communities view or experiences w/ this.

Peace!
Click to expand...

Good vocalists - and I mean really good vocalists - have an instrument. Their voice. A good vocalist will understand music and music theory as well as any other musician.

I will grant though that really good vocalists are few and far between and are the hardest thing in the world to find.
 
#19
How about the one's who think they're learning guitar but just blow through power chords and don't know anything about music. Everything is about tempo and timbre...so when the beat changes that's a tempo change. Notes are things they leave to tell you they're "thinking about" getting an instructor. If you're gonna expect people to listen to you you better know your **** IMO, lazy people man.
 
#20
Jazz Hands said:
After thinking about this topic I can't think of any decent singer I've played w/ that didn't have at least some instrument ability. Obviously we aren't "trying" to judge anyone prior to audition but I'd like to hear the communities view or experiences w/ this.
Click to expand...

I think a singer wouldnt need to play an instrument (even for songwriting capabilities) if youve already got a strong, nonsinging, songwriter in the band.

I'd prefer a singer who does play an instrument, myself, though.
 

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